Related Articles

Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest medical news and research at UHealth.

“I can’t believe I have the opportunity for a different life with a cure,” said 31-year -old Brenda Alfaro who suffered with crippling pain due to sickle cell anemia. She now shows no sign of the disease after receiving a bone marrow transplant at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center as part of a clinical trial.

Treatments, including Hydroxyurea and blood transfusions, were not enough to prevent Alfaro’s sickle cell crises. So she was referred to Dr. Lazaros Lekakis, the principal investigator for the national STRIDE-2 Trial. The study compares outcomes of bone marrow transplantation versus supportive care for young adults with severe sickle cell disease.

The Nicaraguan woman was born with this hereditary, red cell blood disorder and became a patient of hematologist Dr. Thomas Harrington, when she moved to Miami in her early 20s.

“She had very severe disease, excruciating pain and was hospitalized frequently,” said Dr. Harrington, a sickle cell expert at the University of Miami Health System.

These episodes are known as “crises” because of the severe, even life-threatening nature of the attacks. Pain, severe anemia and organ damage are common. Strokes, respiratory failure and other organ failure can be life-threatening complications.

Alfaro had the transplant in December, and four months later says she has never felt better. She was very fortunate to have a perfect match in her one sibling, her brother William. The chance of a match is about 1 in 5, so most patients do not have this option.

Due to the severity of her disease, Alfaro had to put her studies on hold. But now she can continue pursuing her dream of earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“I think Brenda is likely cured, though she still needs close attention,” Dr. Harrington said. “My adult patients have been interested in bone marrow transplant for several years. Being able to offer them this option is very exciting for all of us.”

Next on the horizon for sickle cell patients: CRISPR. In a clinical trial, the gene editing tool is used to introduce a corrective gene into a patient’s stem cells in the lab. The modified stem cells are then infused back into the patient.

Dr. Harrington says this may prove to be the “cure” available to all patients and hopes to get the study up and running at Sylvester soon.